Controller for dynamo-electric machines.



No. 653,47l. Patentad luly |0,.|.900. H. H. CUTLER.

CONTROLLER FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHiNES.

(Application filed Auz. 24. 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CUTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLER FOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,471, dated July 10,1900.

Application filed August 24, 1899. Serial No. 728,-265- (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY H. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controllers for Dynamo-Electric Machines, of which the following is a full,clear,concise,andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a regulator for dynamo-electric machines, myobject being to provide means whereby the voltage of a d ynamo-electricmachine may be regulated and controlled to maintain the same constantwithin prearranged limits.

In accordance with my invention I provide a plurality of solenoidsadapted to be connected in parallel with the armature of the machine andto respond to different voltages of the armature, these solenoidsserving when energized to control the voltage varying means of themachine. I usually provide means for varying the voltage of the machinewithin prearranged limits, and in addition thereto I provide means forchecking any rise of voltage above the prearranged limit and additionalmeans for checking any fall of voltage below the prearranged limit.

In the present application, as illustrating the generic principleunderlying my invention, I have shown and described the regulator asapplied to an electric motor as distinguished from a generator, and Ihave inserted in the present application generic claims drawn, broadly,to contemplate a dynamo-electric machine generically, while in anapplication filed by me January 29, 1900, Serial No. 3,125, whichapplication is a division of the present application, I have illustratedand described my invention as specifically adapted to a dynamo orgenerator. I have also'inserted in the present application claimsspecifically drawn to the regulator as adapted to an electric motor.

For controlling the speed of a motor I arrange the regulating mechanismto control the resistance in a parallel path around the armature or tocontrol the resistance in series with the armature of the motor, wherebythe current through the armature may be varied to thereby regulate thevoltage, and

consequently the speed, of the motor. I provide a solenoid which isadapted to be energized at a prearranged voltage of the armature, andthis solenoid serves to regulate the voltage within the prearrangedlimits. An additional solenoid is provided, which is actuated when thevoltage rises above the upper limit to thereby suddenly check the riseof voltage, and a third solenoid is provided, which is energized whenthe voltage falls below the prearranged limit, thereby checking the fallof voltage. By the cooperation of these elements the voltage of themotor may be maintained inflexibly within prearranged limits, and thespeed of the motor is thereby regulated and controlled. The regulatingmechanism may be readily adjusted to fix the speed of the motor at anydesired speed below full speed.

Throughout the specification and claims I have employed the termsolenoid with its broad significance as comprehending bothelectromagnets having a fixed core and a movable armature, andsolenoids,strictly so called, having a movable core.

I have'illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a diagram illustrating one form of my invention as appliedto an electric mo tor. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating another form ofmy invention as applied to an electric motor.

Like characters refer to like parts in both figures. h

A plurality of solenoids a?) c are connected in series across thearmature d of the electric motor. The solenoids are wound so thatsolenoid a will be energized at a lower voltage than solenoid b and sothat solenoid b will be energized ata lower voltage than solenoid c. Forthe purpose of description I shall assume that the motor has a voltageof one hundred and ten volts and that it is desired to maintain thespeed of the motor constant at one-tenth the normal speed. i In thiscase the solenoid a, will be adjusted to be .energized when the voltageof the armature has been built up to ten volts, the solenoid b will beenergized when the voltage of the armature is one-tenth the normalvoltage, and solenoid a will respond to a voltage of twelve volts. Foradjusting to a higher voltage a rheostat r is provided, the coils ofwhich are connected with terminals f, over which a contact-arm f isadapted to be moved, whereby the circuit around the armature, includingthe solenoids a b a, may be increased in resistance to the requireddegree to thereby increase the voltage at which the solenoids will beenergized. The core a of solenoid a carries a contactplate a which whenraised is adapted to engage contacts a a Likewise core 19 of solenoid bcarries contactplate 19 adapted when raised to engage contacts h b andin a like manner core 0 of solenoid c carries a contact-plate 0 whichwhen raised engages contacts 0 0 The contacts a b c are connected with aconductor 6, which extends to the main 1 of the supplycircuit whichextends to one brush of the armature d. The contact a. extends to oneend of a solenoid A, the other end of which solenoid is connected byconductor 7 with the opposite main 2 of the supply-circuit. The contactI) is connected with one end of solenoid B, the other end beingconnected with conductor 7. Contact 0 is connected with one end ofsolenoid C, and the other end of said solenoid is connected withconductor 7.

The core a of solenoid A carriesa contactplate a adapted when raised toengage contacts a of. The core 19 of solenoid B is connected with apivoted contact-arm b by means of link 6 and the contact-arm b isadapted to be moved over a series of terminals b", be-

tween which are connected the coils of a resistance r. A dash-pot b isconnected with contact-arm b to retard and regulate the movement of saidcontact-arm. The core 0 of solenoid C carries a contact-plate c adaptedwhen raised to engage contacts 0 0 Contact a is connected by conductor8with main 1, and contact a is connected by conductor 9 with thecontact-arm I). Contact 0 is connected by conductor 10 with contact-armb, and contact a is connected by conductor 11 with the end of resistance0. Contact a is also connected, by means of conduct-or 12, with aresistance r.

The field d of the motor is connected by means of conductor 3 with main1 and by means of conductor 4 with contact-plate c, adapted to beengaged by the arm 6 of the starting-switch, said arm 8 being connectedwith main 2 and being adapted to be moved over a series of terminals 6between which are connected the coils of a resistance W. The end ofresistance r is connected by means of conductor 5 to one brush of thearmature d.

The operation of the apparatus in maintaining the speed of the motorconstant is as follows: Supposing the motor to be at rest and it isdesired to start the same, the 0011- tact-arm 6 will be moved over theterminals '6 of the starting-resistance T and current field will passover conductor 4, through the field d, and by conductor 3 to thereturnmain 1. The motor will thus be traversed with current, and thearmature will build up in speed, and the voltage thereof will gradu=ally increase as the speed increases. It has been assumed for thepurpose of description that it is desired to operate the motor at aspeed of one-tenth the normal, in which case the solenoids a, b a willbe adjusted to respond to voltages of ten, eleven, and twelve volts,respectively, so that these solenoids will be energized when the Voltageacross the armature rises to these respective values. When the voltageacross the armature rises to ten volts, sufficient current will traversethe solenoid a to energize the same and the core thereof will beattracted, thereby moving plate a into contact with contacts a and (1Circuit will thus be closed to solenoid A, as follows: From main 2 overconductor 7, solenoid A, contacts a a a conductor 6 to main 1. The coreof solenoid A will thereby be attracted and move the contact-plate ainto engagement with contacts a a thereby closing a short circuit aroundthe armature, including resistances r and r. This circuit being tracedfrom main 1 over conductor 8, contacts a a a conductor 9, contact-arm b,resistance r, conductors 11 and 12, through resistance r to conductor 5,and thence to the opposite side to the opposite main 2. A parallel patharound the armature, including the resistances 1' and r, is thus closedand the armature will be robbed of a portion of its current, therebytending to decrease the speed of the motor. If the current thus shuntedaround the armature is not sufficient to at once check the increase ofspeed, the voltage of the armature will rise to eleven volts andenergize solenoid b, which will at tract its core and close circuitthrough solenoid B, and the latter solenoid will attract its core,thereby moving contact-arm Z) over ten minals b and gradually removingthe resistance r from circuit. As the resistance r is decreased agreater amount of current is permitted to flow through the shunt aroundthe armature, thereby further decreasing the current supplied to thearmature and tending to check the speed thereof. If the oltage continuesto rise and reaches twelvevolts, solenoid a will be energized, therebyattracting its core and closing circuit through solenoid C, which movescontact-plate a into contact with contacts c 0 thereby short-circuitingresistance r or the portion thereof which has been included in circuitby contact-arm Z). This removal of resistance r wholly from circuit issufficient to rob the armature of sufficient current to at once decreaseits speed, and when the voltage falls below twelve volts the solenoid Cwill be deenergized and the solenoid B will control the speed by varyingthe resistancer. During the normal operation the solenoid B willregulate the speed by varying the resistance r, and if at any time, dueto a sudden load being thrown on the motor, the speed is decreasedmaterially so that the voltage falls below ten volts solenoid A isdeenergized, thereby opening the shunt around the armature entirely andpermitting the armature to build up in speed. On the other hand, if atany time the speed of the armature increases materially above thenormal, as when a portion of the load is suddenly thrown ofi, the riseof voltage, due to the in creased speed, will cause the solenoid O to beenergized, thereby removing resistance r entirely and at once checkingthe increase of speed. During the normal operation thereof the solenoidB serves to regulate the speed of the motor within prearranged limits,while the solenoids A and 0 act respectively to check any abnormaldecrease or increase of the speed.

The system as above described is applicable to motors when it is desiredto operate the same at any speed below the normal, but not to exceedone-half of the normal speed. When it is desired to run the motor atspeeds greater than one-half of the normal, it is not usually necessaryto use a governor except in cases where the load or the voltage isexceedingly variable over large limits. In such cases, for economy, itis best to arrange the governor to vary the amount of resistance inseries with the armature instead of connecting the resistance in a shuntaround'the armature,as described in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated my invention as applicable to theregulation of a motor by means of the variation of the resistance inseries with the armature of the motor. Solenoids a b c are connected incircuit, as before 7 described, and solenoids A B C are connected inparallel with the armature, as before described. The contact-plate a ofsolenoid A is, however, arranged above the contacts a a, and likewisethe contact-plate c of solenoid O is arranged above the contacts 0 0 Thecontact-plates normally rest against the contacts and are separatedtherefrom when the respective solenoids are energized. The solenoid B isarranged, as before, to vary the resistance r. I have illustrated aslightlymodified form of hand-switch in which the arm 6 is connectedwith the main 2, while contact-plate e is connected by a conductor 7with the ends of the solenoids A B C and with conductor 4:, whichextends to the shuntfield. The contact 0. is connected by a conductor 13with the end of the starting-resistance T and the contact a is connectedby conductor 14 with contact 0. The contact 0 is connected by conductor15 with one side of the armature, and a resistance r is connectedbetween the contacts 0 and 0. A conductor 16 extends from thecontact-arm b to conductor 14, and a conductor 17 connects the end ofresistance r with conductor 14:. The opposite end of resistance r isconnected by conductor 18 with the end of starting-resistance T Theoperation of the system is as follows: Assuming that the motor is to runat onehalf the normal speed, in which case the solenoids a b 0 will beadjusted to respond to fifty-four, fifty-five, and fifty-six volts,respectively, by moving the contact-arm e over the terminals 6 ofresistance r circuit is closed from main 2 through thestarting-resistance, conductor 13, contacts a a a conductor 14, contacts0 c 0 conductor 15, armature d to the opposite main 1. The shunt-currentflows over conductors 7 and 4:, through the shunt-field d, and thence byconductor 3 to main 1. When the voltage of the armature rises tofifty-four volts, solenoid ais energized, thereby energizing solenoid A,which attracts its core and raises plate 0, out of engagement withcontacts a aflthereby opening the short circuit around resistance r.This energizing of solenoid A does not vary the action of the motor instarting, but.

is effective in regulating the speed during the operation, as will behereinafter described. The current now passes from the startingresistance over conductor 18, contact-arm b conductor 16 to conductor14:, and thence by the route last traced. When the voltage rises tofifty -five volts, solenoid b is energized, thereby energizing solenoidB, which attracts .its core and moves contact-arm 12 over terminals b ofresistance 1", thereby gradually inserting resistance r in circuit todecrease the current supplied to the motor. If the speed continues toincrease and reaches fiftysiX volts, solenoid c is energized, therebyener-- gizing solenoid O and moving contact-plate c out of contact withcontacts 0 c to remove the short circuit about resistance r thereby,

including the same in circuit and materially decreasing the currentsupplied to the motor and at once checking the increase of speed. Whenthe voltage falls below fifty-six volts, the solenoid O is denergizedand resistance r is cut from circuit. During the normal op-,:

eration of the motor the Voltage varies between fifty-four and fifty-sixvolts, and so-- lenoid B is thus alternately energized and deenergizedto vary the resistance 1" in proper degree. Any sudden decrease ofvoltage below fifty-four volts denergizes solenoid A,

thereby short-circuiting resistance r entirely.

and permitting a sudden increase of the current through the motor, whichchecks the decrease of speed. Any sudden increase of voltage, on theother hand, above fifty-six volts energizes solenoid 0, therebyinserting resistance r in circuit with the armature and cutting down thecurrent to at once check the increase of the speed. Solenoid B by beingalternately energized and deenergized to vary resistance r maintains thespeed of the motor.

claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of means forregulating the voltage thereof Within prearranged limits and auxiliarymeans for checking the rise or fall of voltage beyond said prearrangedlimits, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of a solenoid forregulating the voltage thereof within prearranged limits and auxiliarysolenoids for checking the rise or fall of the voltage beyond saidlimits, substantially as described.

3. The combination with adynamo-electric machine, of a solenoid forregulating the voltage thereof within prearranged limits, a solenoid forchecking the rise of voltage above said limits, and a solenoid forchecking the fall of voltage below said limit, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of a solenoid forregulating the voltage thereof within prearranged limits, a solenoid forchecking the rise of Voltage above said limit, a solenoid for checkingthe fall of voltage below said limit, and solenoids for controlling therespective solenoids above mentioned and arranged to be actuated atdifferent voltages, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of a solenoid forregulating the voltage thereof Within prearranged limits, a secondsolenoid for checking the rise of voltage above said limit, a thirdsolenoid for checking the fall of voltage below said limit, a solenoidfor controlling said first solenoid above mentioned and arranged to beenergized at a prearranged voltage, a solenoid for controlling saidsecond solenoid above mentioned and arranged to respond to a highervoltage, and a solenoid for controlling said third solenoid abovementioned and arranged to respond to a lower voltage, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination with a motorand a supply-circuit forsupplying currentthereto, of means for regulating the voltage of the motor Withinprearranged limits, and auxiliary means for checking the rise or fall ofthe voltage beyond said prearranged limits, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an electric motor and a supply-circuit forsupplying current thereto, of a solenoid for regulating the voltage ofsaid motor within prearranged limits, and auxiliary solenoids forchecking the rise or fall of said voltage beyond said prearrangedlimits, substantially as described.

8. The combination with an electric motor, of means for regulating thespeed thereof within prearranged limits, and auxiliary means forchecking the rise or fall of the speed beyond said prearranged limits,substantially as described.

9. The combination with an electric motor, of means for regulating thecurrent supplied to the armature thereof Within prearranged limits, andauxiliary means for checking the rise or fall of the voltage beyond saidprearranged limits, substantially as described.

10. The combination with an electric motor, of a'resistance associatedwith the armature thereof, means for varying the said resistance toregulate the voltage of the motor within prearranged limits, andauxiliary means for checking the rise and fall of said voltage beyondsaid prearranged limits, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an electric motor, of a resistance associatedwith the armature thereof, means for varying said resistance to regulatethe voltage of the motor within prearranged limits, means for materiallyand abruptly increasing the resistance to prevent the voltage frompassing the prearranged limit in one direction, and means for materiallyand abruptly decreasing the resistance to prevent the voltage frompassing the prearranged limit in the other direction, substantially asdescribed.

12. The combination with an electric motor, of means for regulating thevoltage thereof within prearranged limits, means for checking the riseof voltage beyond said prearranged limits, means for checking the fallof voltage beyond said prearranged limits, and solenoids for controllingsaid respective means and arranged to be operated at different voltages,substantially as described.

13. The combination with an electric motor, of means for regulating thevoltage thereof within prearranged limits, means for checking the riseof voltage beyond said prearranged limits, means for checking the fallof voltage beyond said prearranged limits, and solenoids for controllingsaid respective means, connected in parallel with the armature of saidmotor and arranged to operate at different voltages, substantially asdescribed.

145. The combination with an electric motor, of means for regulating thevoltage thereof within prearranged limits, means for checking the riseof voltage beyond said limits, means for checking the fall of voltagebeyond said limits, solenoids for controlling said respective means andconnected in series in a branch circuit in parallel with the armatureand arranged to be operated at different voltages, substantially asdescribed.

15. The combination with an electrical circuit, of means for regulatingthe electrical condition of the same within prearranged limits, andauxiliary means for checking the variation of the circuit conditions ineither direction beyond said prearranged limits,substantially asdescribed.

16. The combination with an electrical circuit, of a regulator forcontrolling the electrical condition thereof within prearranged limits,circuit-controlling devices for checking the Variation in eitherdirection beyond said prearranged limits, an electromagnet re- Inwitness whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses. HENRY H. CUTLER.

Witnesses:

W. CLYDE JONES, M. R. ROOHFORD.

